Slokam 1

The Paramathma was born as Datta, the son of Sage Atri and Anasuya.

Dattatreya is a great healer of ailments, both physical and spiritual. 2.Dattaguru’s work is primarliy to transform and salvage by guiding: he does not kill the impious. Datta is primarly a teacher god (Guru).He was born in the sattva sphere, there is no room here for tragedy. Everything is austere beauty, love and serenity. 3. Datta is an Avadhutha.As such, Datta is unbounded by vedic injunctions. The Avadhootha is above all these. 4. The passing or termination of other avatharas has been mentioned by the PUranas, not so of Dattaguru. 5. Datta grants a vision of himself in such diverse forms as a shepherd, a sanyasin, a Yathi, a Brahmin, or a Faqir. He comes in dreams to fulfil the desires of his devotees. Whatever the form, it rounds off with a vision of a six-handed figure and the face is heavenly bright. 6. Datta’s padukas are worshiped. He loves the oudumbar tree and has Kamadhenu and dogs with him. 7. He taught aatma-vidya and the path of yoga. 8. His behaviour was like the non-intoxicated behaving like the intoxicated.        

Dattatreya is said to be ATHYASRAMA VASI which means he is above 4 ashrams namely Brahmacharya , Grihastha , Vanaprastha & Sanyasa. He need not follow any of the principles but to show the right path to his desciples he followed all the rituals in his two incarnations. He is seen incaves , jungles under Audumber tree as a digamber.

Datta is said to be unhappy at the conduct of His disciples,  ultimately finds bliss in His own self and withdraws from worldly karma. He has a devotee who is the ruler of the Hehaya Kingdom,  called Karthaveeryarjuna.

The Paramathma, pleased with the devotion of Karthaveeryarjuna, confers on him “eight varieties of prosperity”

Extract from https://8wealths.wordpress.com/#:~:text=being%20victorious%2C%20the%20ability%20to%20succeed%20in%20both,ability%20to%20command%20people.%20harmonious%20relationships%2C%20united%20family.

The 8 types are:

• the knowledge of the self: who are you? why are you here? where did you come from and where will you go next?
• material wealth
• the ability to enjoy food, being free from illnesses which prevent you from taking various kinds of food
• being victorious, the ability to succeed in both small and big things that you do
• courage, overcoming worries, confidence of your future and the ability to face challenges and grow in life, not hiding behind lies
• authority, the ability to command people
• harmonious relationships, united family
• achieving knowledge and skill at what you do

Karthaveeryarjuna is also given the boon of meeting his end at the hands of the Paramathma only.

Being fortunate to live in an era of technological advancement,  we can,  at will,  listen to the discourses of the great gurus,  have access to vast amounts of on-line information,  and become members of spiritual organizations. We can contribute as we learn. 

May we aspire to be the ideal disciple of the Paramathma.